Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Chit-chat Wednesday and A trip to Manly

























To paraphrase the old saying, 'Every cloud has a yellow and pink lining'. Now that I don't have to work weekends in the department store, I've been free to join my family in 'Family Funday’ Sunday which is a scheme they have in Sydney to encourage people to use public transport more on a Sunday.
If you are a family you can travel to an amazingly wide range of places for $2.50 each which includes ferries and trains. We plan to do a lot of trips to the Mountains, the Central Coast and the Northern Beaches.
One of our regular daytrips is to Manly. We love the ferry ride over. Sydney really does show her best face on the harbour. Then Daisy enjoys an old-fashioned merry-go-round. The Scribe and Daisy always head to the aquarium to see the live mermaid show and watch the sharks. The Scribe swam with these sharks when I was heavily pregnant with Daisy and I think Daisy gets her fascination of marine life from our frequent trips there.
Whilst they were fish spotting I lazed on the beach reading the Sunday papers and an Agatha Christie. What bliss to be reading beside the sea and not in the gritty inner-city!
We enjoyed a beach picnic and then a stroll along Fairy Bower where the Scribe and Daisy had a rock pool swim and made new friends and (yes, you guessed it) I sat in a shady spot and read my Agatha Christie.
We spotted several large Eastern Water Dragons along the bush track which was quite amazing as they weren't timid of the throng of people passing by. Of course we had to have the obligatory Manly ice-cream before we departed.
A beautiful sunset over an iconic bridge heralded the end of a lovely Family Funday.
Thanks for popping in. Hope the rest of your week is filled with floating clouds tinged with yellow and pink. xx

16 comments:

  1. oh that looks like a fabulous day, dreamy! LOVE the carousel photo, oh how I loved them as I was little (well I still do actually!). Love the photo of the bridge, reminds me of my backpacking trip in Sydney. Lovely to pop by here. Catherine x

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  2. What a lovely day you had seems like Daisy loved it. Now all of the pics are just great but come on that is so not fair. I would die for one of those ice creams. My secret passion on of the few indulgences that steals all of my self control.

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  3. Hi Josephine

    I am so glad that you are able to take full advantage of having a family outing at weekends now. Miss P would love that kind of outing. The Mermaid show would be top of her list!

    The perfect day to get lost in Agatha Christie novel..

    Beautiful sunset..

    Warm wishes
    Isabelle x

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  4. Oh, what a fabulous outing! And to share it with your family is perfect! I remembered the day I saw the sunset at Sydney Harbour for the first time with my aunt a few years back, it will forever be a cherished memory to me because sadly, my dear aunt went to heaven last year. I'll love to go back there again one day:)

    xx

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  5. Well in certain parts of Scotland their clouds are filled with snow or volcanic ash.... definitely not pink! The ice cream looks delish.... wish I could still eat it! Deep sigh.

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  6. Oh, I could TOTALLY get lost in that place! OMG!!! :) Glad you had a nice day. Sorry for the "Gap" again in visits. Life/health have been crazy. Hope you are well.

    Hugs!!!! :)

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  7. I love your post about Manly. You make me miss it there.... It's a special place for our family.

    And we've always gotten ice-cream there too : )

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  8. Hello Catherine, I love a carousel as well. I did get to have a ride in an oversized teacup which was fun but I'd prefer the ponies!
    Ralph,please don't expire for one of those ice-creams! Surely they sell them in Scotland. I still crave the hot chips and vinegar we had in Edinburgh.
    Dear Isabelle, the mermaid show is pretty fab The mermaids also do birthday parties for little girls which Daisy is already putting pressure on for. Yes, Miss P would love it there!
    Sher, how lovely to have that beautiful memory of your aunt before she died. I do hope you get to see the Harbour again. You have so many wonderful adventures around the globe.
    Maggie, you made me smile with both those comments. Thanks for popping in.
    Hello Sophia, hope all is well. I'll be over to visit you soon!
    Dina, Hello. Thanks for your comment. I could easily live at Manly. Anywhere by the water would be lovely. Yes, you have to buy the ice-cream there. We often get fish and chips as well which are always lovely. Chips are best eaten by the sea. xx

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  9. I love the ferry ride over to Manly. Its been a few years since I have done it. I must do it again soon.

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  10. although i'm a dyed-in-the-wool melbournite, i must admit the harbour and ferry rides are something that sydney has over melbourne! so pleased that you can now enjoy your weekends (and thriftily too!)

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  11. Simone, the Harbour is beautiful but it would still be a bus man's holiday for you! You should be going to the Northern Territory.
    Jennifer, you are on the money there. Not everything beautiful and fun in life costs a lot. Fingers crossed that Family Funday Sunday will continue. There is so much that is dire about the public transport in Sydney that we need some sunshine and good will. xx

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  12. That reads and looks like the perfect day out Josephine. Being together in the glorious Sydney sunshine (plus those yummy ice creams)....heavenly I imagine. xv

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  13. Sounds like a wonderful day! I am so looking forward to these family days once my daughter is born xo

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  14. Hello Vicki, Hopefully it won't be too long before you are back in the Australian sunshine.
    Jennifer, so the enfant is a girl. How wonderful! xx

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  15. What a fun day out for you all - each getting to do things you love but being together in the sunshine! I hope so much to get to Sydney one of these days.........and then on to NZ because I know I'll love it there too.

    Agatha Christie grew up in my home town - my dad used to roller skate with her on the wooden pier by the harbor! Glad you enjoy her stories - she was one of the best mystery writers, and a bit of a mystery herself at times!

    Thanks for stopping by Josephine - busy days for me but I'll see you when I get back from my upcoming 'next adventure'!!

    Hugs - Mary

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  16. Gosh! I have missed out on so many posts and I can't keep up right now with my course...but do know I haven't forgotten you - will try and read bits here and there where poss! I loved Manly when I visited once...looks like you had a gorgeous day! xxx

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